Let’s see if Dodge’s new electric muscle car can keep up with America’s original pony car
- The Ford Mustang Dark Horse and Dodge Charger Daytona just raced head to head.
- On paper, these two muscle cars each have their own performance advantages.
- The winner in this gas versus electric race is decisive but the racing is still entertaining.
As we enter the era of electric muscle cars, the question on everyone’s mind is: How do we compare them? In the latest U-Drag, we get as close to a direct comparison as you can ask for. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse squares off against the Dodge Charger Daytona in a battle of over 1,100 horsepower. Strap in, it’s about to get interesting.
The Stats: Not Always What They Seem
First, let’s talk about numbers because they can be deceptive or very telling. The Ford Mustang brings 500 horsepower (372 kW) and 418 lb-ft (566 Nm) of torque to the table from its naturally-aspirated, Gen-5 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine. It tips the scales at 4,016 pounds (1,821 kg) and, like any true muscle car, sends all that power to the rear wheels.
Read: Can A $147K Corvette Z06 Beat A $371K Maserati MC20?
On the other side, we have the Charger—a different beast altogether. It’s all-electric and all-wheel drive. It makes 670 horsepower (499 kW) and 627 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque. That’s a lot more than the Ford but the Dodge also weighs 5,972 pounds (2,708 kg). That’s nearly 33% heavier than the Mustang, which raises an important question: Does all that extra weight come with its own set of challenges?
The Race: Power vs. Handling
In theory, all of that should add up to better acceleration from the Dodge, but better braking and handling from the Ford. On tarmac, the first part of that prediction sure enough proves true. The Dodge rockets away from the Ford and puts a car length or more on it before the braking zone. Then, the Mustang begins to gain ground as the two enter the corner, and that’s where things start to get interesting.
In the past, electric vehicles really struggled toward the top-end of the speedometer. Now, things are different and the Charger uses its brute force to roll away from the corner and keep its lead. In race two, things are mostly the same but the ending is a bit different. Once again, the Charger leads off the line and into the corner.
There, the Mustang begins to pull ahead as it corners harder and exits a bit quicker. In fact, it does so well that it has at least a car-length lead on the Dodge as the two head for home. Sadly for Ford, the Mustang just doesn’t have enough power to get away though.
Close, But Not Quite Enough
The Dodge slowly but surely reels in the pony car and takes this victory 2-0. It’s a tight race, but when it’s all said and done, the Dodge Charger Daytona claims the win. The Mustang, for all its handling prowess, simply doesn’t have the power to hold off its electrified rival. Still, let’s not forget: the Mustang might have lost the race, but it sounds way more exciting doing it, no matter how hard Dodge tries to fake it with its synthetic Fratzonic engine noises.